SINGAPORE - Life as a professional footballer has its ups and downs and Tajeli Salamat, a defender in the Singapore Premier League (SPL), knows this all too well.

In April, the 28-year-old played a key role in the Lion City Sailors' historic 3-0 win over Daegu FC in the Asian Champions League -the first time a Singaporean side had beaten a South Korean team in the continental competition.

Later that night, Tajeli and midfielder M. Anumanthan went out to celebrate the win in Buriram, Thailand - breaking the team's 10pm curfew.

They were sent home the next day in disgrace, even though the team had four more matches to play. The club said the pair "broke team regulations".

In his first comments on the matter, Tajeli told The Straits Times: "I cried on the plane during the journey back. I knew I had messed up. I knew I had broken curfew but I still felt it was harsh to send me back right away.

"But I accepted it and I was determined to make sure that I would make things right when the team returned."

But worse was to follow.

After a meeting with the Sailors' management, Tajeli - whose contract with the club was to have run out at the end of this season - was told that he would no longer be required to attend training and play for the league's first privatised side.

He then joined Geylang International on loan till the end of the season, with the Sailors, the league's wealthiest club, covering his wages.

He will now make his bow for his new side against Tampines Rovers at Our Tampines Hub in the SPL on Saturday (June 18).

Tajeli said: "I am thankful to the Sailors because they have still allowed me to continue with my football even if it is elsewhere. I wish I could turn back time but this has happened and I need to move on.

"I am grateful that I can show my abilities with Geylang. I want to repay the club by helping them move up the league and do well in the Singapore Cup."

Geylang are currently second-last in the eight-team SPL.

It is all a far cry from 2021. Then, he was regarded as one of the best right-backs in the local league, had won his first trophy in professional football following the Sailors' triumph in the SPL, had made his international debut for the national team and had become a father for the first time.

He was also beginning to re-build his reputation, which lay in tatters after the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines. Then, he was also found guilty of breaking a team curfew - one of nine members of the Singapore Under-23 team caught doing so. Six of them, including Tajeli, had left the team hotel after 11pm to visit a casino not far from the team's base in Manila, returning only in the wee hours.

All nine players were fined by the Singapore National Olympic Council after a disciplinary hearing, with Tajeli having to pay $1,800.

The latest incident has Tajeli finally realising that discipline is a must-have.

He said: "As much as I want to be positive, the truth is that I am looking at a drastic pay-cut next year. But I know that I can't let this be the end (of my career). I have so much more to show and I am determined to put this incident behind me and make the most out of the remaining years in football."

Geylang coach Noor Ali is hoping Tajeli will be a big boost for his side.

He said: "To me, what is important is what happens on the pitch. As a coach, I have handled players who have had issues off it and what matters to me is that the player is able to give his all for me and the team.

"Tajeli is of national-team calibre and he needs to forget about the incident and work towards getting back to his best. He is a fighter and we need that characteristic in our team."

Tajeli knows he has a battle on his hands to win back fans and silence the critics.

He said: "My aggression, my style and how I give everything for my team - that is who I am. I know people expect all footballers to be role models and be an example but for me, I want to be known for what I am on the field.

"I cannot control what people think or say about me. I'll control what I do on the pitch and that will speak for itself."

Other matches this weekend

Tanjong Pagar v Young Lions (June 18, 5.30pm)

The Young Lions return to league action after an unsuccessful SEA Games campaign in Hanoi.

The developmental side are still rooted to the bottom of the table with one win in seven matches and will be hoping to get the better of the SPL's surprise team of the season.

Balestier Khalsa s Lion City Sailors (June 19, 5.30pm)

With 12 of their players involved in the national team's Asian Cup qualifiers in Kyrgyzstan over the past few weeks, fatigue will be a major concern for the Sailors.

Balestier Khalsa will look to take advantage of this and upset the defending champions.

Albirex Niigata v Hougang United (June 19, 5.30pm)

After a losing start to the campaign, Albirex Niigata are on a nine-match unbeaten run in the league. In their last outing, they were 8-2 winners over Geylang, which also marked the scoring debut of their new signing, Ilhan Fandi.

Hougang will go into the tie on the back of a three-match unbeaten streak.